Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Season 1 finale of Only Murders In The Building.
The mystery at the center of Only Murders in the Building was certainly the most intriguing aspect of the series. That being said, no matter how compelling or engaging the story was, the true thing that kept the viewing audience coming back each week was the cast of characters.
Each of the characters on the Hulu show had flaws and watching them either dive deeper into those issues or try to overcome them was a treat. Along the way, many of them managed to find ways to be likable. The viewers could relate to what they were going through or find ways to root for them.
10 Jan
When Jan (Amy Ryan) was first introduced, she was someone who the audience could appreciate. She quickly bonded with Charles, told corny jokes with him, and they seemed to hit it off as an adorable couple. The worst she did in her first few appearances was be a bit annoying by inserting herself into the trio's investigation.
That all changed as time went on, with the reveal that Jan had been in a relationship with Tim Kono and was the one who killed him. She also poisoned Charles, leaving him for dead. No matter what quirks she had that the viewers may have liked early on, she committed the ultimate wrong by murdering and trying to do so again.
9 Teddy Dimas
Like Jan, Teddy Dimas (Nathan Lane) doesn't seem like he's a bad person at the start of the series. He's Oliver's old friend who has invested too much money in him but does so again to work as the sponsor for the podcast. Of course, there was more to Teddy than meets the eye as he had a vicious streak.
When his son caused the death of Zoe, Teddy immediately protected him by threatening the only witness, Tim Kono. Teddy was the real reason that Oscar spent so much time in prison and he also had an illegal side business that involved graverobbing.
8 Theo Dimas
Although Theo Dimas (James Caverly) was actually the person responsible for Zoe's death, he does garner a bit more sympathy than his father. "The Boy from 6B" was an episode that shined a light on the life Theo lived and it seemed like he had a good heart.
Things took a turn for the worse that night when he argued with Zoe and knocked her off the roof of the Arconia. Even with that happening, he would've been more likable if he held himself accountable. Instead, he let his father cover for him, then worked with him as a graverobber, and even kidnapped Oliver and Mabel.
7 Sting
Of the show's most prominent characters, Sting gets the least amount of screen time. He's a case of a celebrity playing a unique version of themselves on a television show as he is one of the earliest tenants believed to have killed Tim Kono. He was also accused of poisoning Oliver's dog.
That being said, Sting was proven innocent and never really showed up again in Only Murders in the Building. He made for a fine distraction of sorts and a fun subplot before the story really picked up. Sting gave no reason to dislike him, so he's a middle-of-the-pack character in terms of likability.
6 Detective Williams
Mabel, Charles, and Oliver initially seem way over their heads with this investigation. Detective Williams (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) made them aware of that when they first interacted, proclaiming that everyone who listens to true crime podcasts seems to believe they know more than the authorities.
Although she was skeptical and dismissive of them at first, she comes around and is a big assistance later on. Fans also got a glimpse into her home life, seeing her talk with her wife about the podcast and their baby on the way. Her willingness to get back in on the action made her someone to root for.
5 Tim Kono
Tim Kono (Julian Cihi) is the character who ignites the entire story as his death kickstarts the investigation by Mabel, Charles, and Oliver. Though he dies in the first episode, Tim was given a lot more backstory through flashbacks where you could see that he was a good person.
Due to Teddy's threatening antics, Tim made a heartbreaking mistake and let his friend Oscar go to jail for several years. However, Tim was trying his best to right that wrong by going after Teddy and his criminal activities before he was murdered. It showed that Tim was actively trying to do better, which is important.
4 Oscar
After being seen going up the stairs during the building evacuation in the first episode, Oscar (Aaron Dominguez) was one of the earliest suspects in Tim Kono's murder. Of course, that wasn't the case and Oscar immediately gained the sympathy of the viewers because of the bad hand he was dealt.
Oscar spent years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Upon getting free, he ended up going down a good path, reuniting with Mabel and becoming her romantic interest. On top of that, Oscar wasn't shy about helping with the investigation, putting himself in potential harm's way to do what was right.
3 Charles-Haden Savage
There were moments when Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin) irritated viewers. His penchant for choosing Jan over Oliver and Mabel down the stretch wasn't appreciated but that ended up just being a bump in the road. He quickly figured out Jan's true nature and outsmarted her in the end.
It was sweet to watch Charles form a father/daughter bond with Mabel, especially given how his previous relationship had ended. Seeing him break out of his shell and become more comfortable in social situations as he accepted his new friends made for a great arc.
2 Oliver Putnam
Sometimes, you can be a truly likable character by simply being hilarious and in some ways, that's just who Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) was. Almost every line he delivered was funny and the same goes for the odd things he was prone to do, including eating only dips or being overly critical of Charles.
Like his fellow podcasters, Oliver was also a standout for showing surprising bravery and a desire to do good. His storyline regarding his strained relationship with his son and how he rectifies that was welcome, as was his admiration for his dog, which fans could relate to.
1 Mabel Mora
There's no question that Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) was the character who shined the brightest in most cases. She proved herself to be an independent woman, someone who is brilliant and someone who was tougher than she initially let on, while also being accepting of her new friendships.
Mabel was quick to let Charles and Oliver know if their opinions were too old-fashioned, so audiences could always cheer for that. She had the personal connection to Tim's death and was known to find answers before everyone else. Mabel also was always there for her friends, knocked out Jan in the end, and remained likable from start to finish.
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